Youngsters at a pre-school in Tilehurst were devastated when thieves stole their new play equipment.

The theft at over the weekend of March 2 and 3 was the second this term at Stepping Stones in Dunsfold Road.

Lindsey Stevens, who chairs the pre-school management committee, said the staff found a large plastic ‘playgym’ from the garden had been stolen as well as a bird look-out centre.

The two pieces of equipment were new and cost around £350 each.

The earlier theft took place over the Christmas holidays when the shed was broken into and bikes and scooters stolen.

Of this month’s raid, Mrs Stevens said: “The children were very upset about the theft. They loved the bird look-out centre in particular.”

She said the playgym was very large and the thieves must have come prepared with some kind of transport to take it away.

She added: “I really can’t imagine what kind of person steals from a pre-school.”

The thefts make life very difficult for the facility, which welcomes 22 children aged two to five every weekday.

Raising funds to keep it going had always been difficult and losing such expensive new equipment is a big blow.

Stepping Stones was threatened with eviction two years ago from its old home in the old Meadway School building. Reading Borough Council found it a new home in the newly refurbished school’s sixth form block in September.

Mrs Stevens said: “We have since moved to new premises and they are really lovely. It was a new start with some new equipment and now this has happened.”

The pre-school’s garden will move soon – because the space is to be developed – and there were plans to move the play equipment into the newly-landscaped garden.

She said: “Now there will be nothing to move. It will be really sparse.”

If anyone can help Stepping Stones with play equipment – particular bikes and scooters suitable for children under five years – it would be very grateful.